Knights turn back Glenn

May 17--WELCOME -- The first time North Davidson and Glenn played softball was on March 5 to open the season, and the Knights run-ruled the Bobcats.

North coach Mike Lambros wasn't expecting that kind of result again.

And he was right.

Sophomore right-hander Carson Pace hurled a five-hitter and drove in a run as the undefeated Knights held off Glenn 3-1 in the second round of the 4-A state playoffs on Friday in Welcome.

While he wasn't surprised, Lambros didn't feel any less angst.

"My heart can't take this anymore," Lambros said.

North (28-0) pounded out a 12-0 win in that March game but Glenn pitcher Karen Foley also threw a five-hitter and the Knights had to scrap for each of their runs. They also needed a couple of big catches by shortstop Haley Pace and right fielder Bre Crumley.

"That goes to show you," Lambros said. "You play them at the first of the year and you win by a big score. They came here tonight, they're playing great ball in the last part of the season. Totally different team. They were missing a player the last time ..."

North will host Southern Alamance, an 11-1 winner over Southwest Guilford, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the third round.

Carson Pace (18-0) struck out eight and walked none. Given that North has outscored its opponents by a combined 263-41, this one was tougher than most. They usually don't play close games.

"We really don't and it was a different experience," Pace said. "I knew my defense was going to be behind me no matter what."

It did help that the Knights grabbed an early lead.

Maggie Fritts led off the bottom of the second and was sacrificed to second by Katie Taylor. Fritts took third on a wild pitch and scored on Carson Pace's grounder.

Pace pitched out of a first and third situation with one out by catching Tracy Haynes' infield fly and striking out Caitlin Parker.

"Carson pitched well," Lambros said. "She got out of some jams."

North put the pressure on again in the bottom of the third when Hailey Cole singled with one out and Crumley walked. What followed was a bit odd. Haley Pace ripped a single to the gap in left center, scoring Cole. Crumley was thrown out trying to take third on the play. As she slid, Crumley knocked the base loose and as an umpire was trying to secure the bag, Pace raced for third and slid in safely. After a conference among the umpires, Pace was allowed to stay at third.

"It was a very strange feeling," Haley Pace said. "The third baseman wasn't there and the pitcher wasn't in the circle, so I just took off."

Foley walked the next two batters to load the bases but got Fritts to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Glenn cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth when Parker singled with two out, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Ashley Hurd's single.

The Knights tacked on a very important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Casey Stanek singled with one out and pinch runner Haley Mitchell went all the way to third on Sierra Vanzant's line drive single to right. Mitchell then scored on Cole's grounder to short, making it a 3-1 game.

But the Bobcats weren't quite done.

Breann Murphy singled with one out and Samantha Stilling reached base on shortstop Haley Pace's error. Foley lofted a fly ball to shallow right and Crumley got there just in time to make a running catch to end the game.

"I thought the kids played well," Lambros said. "We had a couple of big hits."

Glenn, which had won six straight, ended the season with a 15-7 record.

Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter:@LexDispatch_md

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